"Always winter and never Christmas"? Not in the Episcopal Church! Christmas is traditionally the time when many newcomers come to our services: how can we be better hosts as we greet them in the name of the Child of Bethlehem?
We trust and pray that we're going to be welcoming many newcomers at Christmas services. How should we greet them?
christmas evangelism 2005
(This is also the season of the release of the "Narnia" movie, so be ready to answer your visitors' questions!)
Tis the season of full churches and people singing familiar carols. How can we greet newcomers and occasional church-goers in ways that will invite them back at less culturally-supportive times?
A few suggestions:
1. Make sure your voice mail and web site have accurate and easy-to-understand information about your Christmas services.
2. Pray and prepare so that your Christmas services are absolutely the best they can be. This is truly a time to "pay the rent" with attention to well-prepared sermons, practiced music, and liturgical rehearsals.
3. Welcome people during the announcements with genuine enthusiasm – and no attempts of humor about people's attendance! (I’ve heard stories of clergy saying something like “And welcome back to you folks we last saw at Easter.” This is NOT a good idea!)
4. For all the changes we've seen, Christmas remains one of the most traditional times in America. Whatever you might think, Silent Night and other classic Christmas hymns and carols are still very appropriate. Save the “cutting edge” for another occasion.
5. Proclaim the Good News that God became human in Jesus Christ. Tell that Good News in your own words, through your own life, through your own experiences. Spiritual seekers are not looking to be convinced; they are looking for an introduction to the God who dwells in God's people.
6. Follow up with newcomers. Have a simple way for people to give you their contact info (maybe a bulletin insert to deposit in the offering plate?), and then follow up with a Christmas card during the twelve days of Christmas. Invite them back to celebrate the Epiphany.
7. Be centered. Christians, both lay and clergy, who regularly attend to and support the ministry of the church need to be spiritually centered at this time of year to be open and responsive to the questions and concerns of spiritual seekers.
Christmas Blessings!
Michael Barlowe
The new movie based on C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" opened with a $67 million box office and the most free publicity for Christianity in a long time. Are you ready?
The media is buzzing: is it a Christian movie or not? Disney is playing both sides of the question. It's the hottest movie of the biggest movie season of the year. When people start asking you questions, here are some resources:
The Official One.
A more conservation resource, but lots of info